It's possible that I'm getting a little carried away with apple season. Wait. Is that possible? Let's just go with "no," OK?
APPLES! GLORIOUS APPLES!
Last week's Pecan Apple Biscuits barely made a dent in my stash, so I've been making apple everything again this week. That includes main courses, thank you very much.
If you've never thrown a Granny Smith Apple into your stir fry, I suggest you proceed directly to Jail, do not pass Go and do not collect $200.
For real, try it. I don't know how other kinds of apples would work, I just know that Granny Smiths add a perfect hint of sweet without overpowering everything else you have going on. They are SO good when paired with fall vegetables.
Fall Stir Fry
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 clove minced garlic
2 handfuls snow peas
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped and cored (no need to peel it)
1 small zucchini, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Prepared brown rice
(makes 4-6 servings)
Stir Fry is crazy easy to make. The only trick is figuring out what order to add everything to the skillet in so that you end up with all of the vegetables (and the apple!) cooked just the right amount. It stinks when you're zucchini ends up mushy but your carrots are still raw, you know? This is the order I work in and it turns out perfectly for us. We like our peppers and onions fully cooked, but don't you dare make our carrots mushy.
1. Wash all of the vegetables and the apple. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped red pepper. All through the steps below, keep an eye on your skillet and stir when necessary to prevent burning.
2. While the pepper is getting started, chop the carrots. Throw them in as soon as you're done.
3. While the pepper and carrots are getting their cook on, chop that onion. Add it to the skillet, along with the garlic.
4. Now it's the snow peas' turn. Cut off the ends if needed and toss them into the skillet.
5. Next up, it's Granny Smith's turn! Chop then add.
6. Zucchini. Do your thang.
7. When you're happy with the softness of the carrots, you're good to go. I personally like them to still have a little crisp to them.
8. Season with salt and pepper and whatever else makes you happy.
9. Serve over brown rice. Or white rice. Or all by itself. Or stuffed in a tortilla shell. Listen, do whatever you want. It's stir fry, so anything goes.